Part 4 (1/2)
Chapter 8.
Captain Joy Says No!
FACED WITH AN UNCO-OPERATIVE.
CAPTAIN JOY, Jupiter and Pete felt their spirits sink. They started to walk away from the refreshment stand, but Jeremy spoke up.
”Gee, Dad, I know these guys. I think you could at least hear what they have to say.”
”Troublemakers, that's what they are,”
Salty Sam put in. ”I say kick 'em out.”
”I've got a business to run,” said the captain, ”but I'll give you five minutes since you're Jeremy's friends. Sam, get back to the ticket booth. You two come with me.” Captain Joy led the boys into his trailer. It was furnished like any house, but everything was smaller to fit the tiny rooms. The captain nodded to a couch and Jupiter and Pete sat down. Jeremy perched on the arm of a chair. The captain watched the boys.
”Well, spit it out. What do you have to say about Major Karnes?”
Jupiter explained all they had seen at the interviews two days before, and told how the tapes of the boys and everyone who followed them were erased right away. He pointed out that Karnes had implied that everyone would be paid, though Karnes had actually paid no one but Captain Joy.
Jupiter explained how Kames had no intention of interviewing all those he had sent home on the first day, or anyone who had been in line after the captain.
”Jupiter, is it?” the captain said. ”Well, Jupiter, what's wrong with all that? It's obvious that Kames knew just what he wanted, so he didn't need to spend much time on the first interviews or keep stories he couldn't use.”
”What about the ad saying he'd pay everyone?” Pete said.
”You simply misinterpreted the ad, Pete. Or perhaps the major worded it poorly.”
”Why send half the people away without even hearing their stories, sir?” Jupiter asked.
”Too many people that first day, just as he said. I think his in-town and out-of-town idea was good and fair.”
”But Dad,” Jeremy said, ”if he never interviewed the people in town at all, that sure wasn't fair or even honest.”
”Well ...” The captain hesitated.
”Why send out all those circulars in the first place,” Jupiter said, ”if he wasn't going to interview most of the people who got them?”
”I expect because he didn't realize that Jeremy and I had all the information he needed. That's your answer!”
The captain's voice was triumphant, and Jeremy looked at the boys questioningly.
Had they made a mistake?
”In that case, sir,” Jupiter said, ”why did the major erase your interview tape too?”
”My interview?”
”We saw saw him do it!” Pete cried. him do it!” Pete cried.
”Impossible!” The captain looked at them. ”What are you two really up to? Coming here and trying to get me-”
”Dad?” Jeremy broke in. ”Maybe something is is wrong, you know? I wrong, you know? I mean, Pete and Jupiter are detectives, and maybe they're right.”
”Detectives?” Captain Joy said sarcastically. ”You mean this is all some kid game? Playing detective!”
”No, Dad, they're real real detectives. Show him, guys,” Jeremy said. detectives. Show him, guys,” Jeremy said.
”Junior detectives, sir,” Jupiter said, handing the captain a card and a letter, ”but we've had some successful cases.”
The captain took the papers with a scowl and read them.
THE THREE INVESTIGATORS.
”We Investigate Anything”
First Investigator - Jupiter Jones - Jupiter Jones Second Investigator - Peter Crenshaw - Peter Crenshaw Records and Research - Bob Andrews - Bob Andrews The captain snorted and read the letter.
This certifies that the bearer is a Volunteer Junior a.s.sistant Deputy cooperating with the police force of Rocky Beach. Any a.s.sistance given him will be appreciated.
Samuel Reynolds, Chief of Police Captain Joy nodded slowly and looked more kindly at the boys.
”I see the chief thinks quite highly of you,” he said. ”I'm sorry I doubted your intentions, boys. I know now you mean to help, and anyway, it should have been enough that you are friends of Jeremy's. But I'm certain that you've made some mistake, or there has at least been a misunderstanding.”
”But Dad,” Jeremy said, ”why erase your first tape?”
”If he did, perhaps there was a technical reason,” the captain said. ”Or maybe he wanted to use a special tape for the real interview, or wanted us to start in a different way. We've been taping for two days now, and I'm sure he hasn't erased those tapes!”
”Perhaps you should check on that, sir,” Jupiter suggested.
The captain frowned. ”Just what do you think the Major is doing, Jupiter?”
”It appears to us highly probable that he set up the whole interview scheme just to reach you and Jeremy, sir.”
”But we never met Karnes before! We never even heard of him. There's nothing he could possibly want from us. This show barely keeps us alive, and it won't do that if I don't get some money to improve it.”
”How about that?” Pete wondered. ”Your land here. Maybe the major is trying to steal your land!”
”I don't own the land, Pete. I lease it from the Evans family.”
”Evans?” Jupiter said.
The captain nodded. ”The old pirate's family still owns land on the cove.”